Domination (A C.H.A.O.S. Novel) - By Jon Lewis Page 0,59

bright yellow with red spots, flew over the water’s surface.

From what he could see there were at least thirty Soldiers of the Grail, some in their native Thule form while others looked human. They scampered along the fallen transport, scavenging parts and loading them into a cart pulled by a creature the size of an elephant, though with its massive hump, round head, and tusks jutting out from its wide jaw, it looked more like a mutated rhino.

Colt squinted and wiped the moisture from his brow, wondering what to do. Project Betrayal wasn’t supposed to take place for another ten days, and he was supposed to have the rest of Phantom Squad at his side, not to mention support from Jackal, Blizzard, Lightning, and Anvil. Instead, here he was on Gathmara with a renegade army of Thule, and he was fairly certain that the only thing keeping them from splitting him open and eating his liver was the fact that they thought Colt was somehow going to help them destroy Aldrich Koenig and his Defense Corps.

“I wasn’t kidding about the infection,” Rhane said as he snapped off a meaty leaf from what looked like an oversized aloe plant. He ran his thumbnail down the center, squeezed out a clear gelatinous liquid that smelled like lemon, and rubbed it on Colt’s wrists. “It’s called evros, and it does wonders for surface wounds.”

“Thanks,” Colt said. It was cold and at first it stung, but it didn’t take long before soothing relief set in. As he stood there he caught sight of armed soldiers escorting the other prisoners to an armored vehicle with eight oversized tires. It looked a bit like a Stryker, but it was built for cargo, not warfare.

There were at least two dozen prisoners, and each of them silently clambered into the back with their heads down and shoulders slumped. The only one Colt was able to make eye contact with was Sheriff Sutherland, but one of Rhane’s soldiers pushed the sheriff into the back of the vehicle before he could speak.

Colt frowned and took a step forward, but Rhane grabbed him by the arm. “They’re not your concern,” he said. “At least not for now.”

“What are you going to do with them?”

Before Rhane could answer, a roar like an engine spooked a flock of birds, and they took to the sky. Moments later something that looked like a cross between a helicopter and a fighter jet was looming overhead.

“What is that thing?” Colt asked.

“One of Koenig’s hovercraft,” Rhane said. “We took their prize and they want it back.”

“Their prize?”

“You.” Rhane turned to the other soldiers. “We’re heading out. Now!”

“Wait,” Colt said. “You knew I was in that transport?”

Rhane didn’t reply as he led Colt into the trees to where an armored Walker with six mechanical legs instead of four normal tires was parked. There was a flurry of activity as the Soldiers of the Grail gathered their gear and loaded the other vehicles.

A band of Twilek swung from branch to branch, their screams echoing through the jungle as the ground transport with all the prisoners in the back rumbled to life. There was a sound like metal grating on metal as the driver put it into gear. Exhaust spilled from dual smokestacks as the vehicle moved down a path that looked far too narrow.

Trees shook as Koenig’s hovercraft drew near. It was close enough that when Colt looked up through the branches he could see the insignia of the Defense Corps on the underbelly. Guns mounted on the hovercraft started to fire, and flares of orange erupted from the barrels. Colt turned and covered his head as bullets tore through the vegetation.

“Let’s go!” Rhane shouted as he jumped into the driver’s seat of the armored Walker.

Shrapnel bounced off the Walker as Colt slid underneath, scrambling to get to the passenger’s door. There was shouting. Someone screamed, and Colt watched as a Soldier of the Grail fell nearby, his lifeless eyes open and his mouth agape.

“Now!”

Rhane’s voice shocked Colt into motion and he rolled out from under the vehicle, opened the door, and climbed into the passenger’s seat. The Walker jolted forward, pounding through pools of dead water and skittering over moss-covered boulders as the hovercraft tracked them through the branches overhead.

Soon the ground started to shake, and moments later a herd of what looked like six-legged elk thundered across the path up ahead. Each was as big as a draft horse, with a long tail that ended in a